Regional impact assessment statements

RRP aims to achieve long term improvements in the health of the riverine environment between Wellington and the South Australian border. The RRP is focused on recovering environmental water, maintaining and improving water-dependent ecosystem health, optimising conditions for ecological recovery, increasing community knowledge, and improving scientific knowledge and understanding for the management of floodplains, wetlands and environmental river management.

The RRP Phase 2 Wetlands will provide refugia, breeding sites, feeding habitats, nurseries and dispersal nodes along the river to expand the area available to ecological communities that are vulnerable to climate change. The RRP Phase 2 Wetlands involves construction works at up to eleven wetland sites. Works range from construction of new, and replacement of existing, structures including regulators to the removal of physical flow barriers and channel improvement works.

The expected financial, social and community, equity and environmental impacts to the region from RRP Phase 2 Wetlands have been assessed to be positive and significant for the Riverland region. In particular, the RIAS found that positive outcomes are expected to result from regional employment during construction which will also generate flow on benefits to regional providers of goods and services. Improved ecological outcomes generated by the project are anticipated to positively benefit the regions tourism industry. The RRP Phase 2 Wetlands also presents a unique opportunity for indigenous engagement in the implementation and ongoing management of River Murray wetlands. For the Ngarrindjeri / Ngaunguraku, this includes Indigenous-led management of the Sugar Shack Wetland Complex.

SARFIIP is a package of environmental works and measures that will allow periodic managed inundation of the Pike Floodplain near Renmark and Katarapko Floodplain near Berri. It will also lead to changes in the operation of the River Murray between Lock 1 (Blanchtown) and Lock 6 (SA border) for environmental benefit.

The expected financial, social and community, equity and environmental impacts to the region from RRP Phase 2 Wetlands have been assessed to be positive and significant for the Riverland region. The RIAS found that the SARFIIP will have positive economic benefits through employment, the associated flow on benefits to regional goods and service providers and enhanced tourism opportunities. Productivity benefits are also expected to result from improved water quality on the Pike Floodplain. The involvement of the community in the development and implementation of SARFIIP and the solutions proposed, will help ensure the programs outcomes are long term and sustained.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Custodians whose ancestral lands we live and work upon and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and the relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country.

We also pay our respects to the cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their nations in South Australia, as well as those across Australia.